24/7/13

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW



TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW


C O N T E N T S

No. 138/13                                                    24/07/2013

1. Eroglu reveals to Kibris what he will discuss in Brussels
2. Turkish Cypriot columnist argues that Varosha has been seriously put on  the table for the first time in the last 39 years 
3. The Cyprus problem is not discussed in the campaign for the forthcoming “parliamentary elections” in occupied Cyprus 
4. Illegal settlers in occupied Cyprus to establish a new political party
5. Turkish military steps up measures on Syria border
6. Turkey won't accept any de facto autonomy in Syria before a Parliament is elected, according to Davutoglu
7. Kerry reportedly called Davutoglu to talk about Israeli-Palestinian peace talks
8. Turkish journalist YavuzBaydar fired from Sabah daily over his criticism to Turkish government
9. Iraq's Barzani urges dialogue as Kurds prepare for grand conference
10. Samantha Fox in occupied Cyprus

1. Eroglureveals to Kibris what he will discuss in Brussels
Under the title “We are in favor of substantial negotiations”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (24.07.13) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, DervisEroglu has argued that the Turkish Cypriot side wanted substantial negotiations on the Cyprus problem and reiterated the view that a time limit should be put in the process. 

In an interview with Kibris Media Group’s General Publishing Director, SuleymanErguclu before departing for Brussels, Eroglu alleged: “Our wish is for starting substantial negotiations at the table and be able to reach a result within a time limit rather than discussing only confidence building measures or the technical committees established for this purpose. This is our sincere wish”.
Eroglu is expected to meet with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barosso and the European Commissioner Responsible for the Enlargement, Stefan Fuletoday in Brussels. Eroglu said that during the meeting he would once more bring onto the agenda the issue of the so-called unjust embargoes allegedly implemented on the Turkish Cypriots and express the views of the Turkish side on the issue of the occupied fenced city of Varosha, which “is intensively debated recently”, and on the document submitted to the sides by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Alexander Downer. He noted that they would also express their views on statements made by President Anastasiades during the pre-election period, the text of President Anastasiades’ agreements with the Democratic Party (DIKO) and the agreements reached at the National Council.  
Eroglu said that both in the past and today they were not positive to the proposal regarding the opening of the port of Famagusta to international trade under the control of the EU in return to [opening] Varosha [for its legal Greek Cypriot owners]. He reiterated that they believe that Varosha is a part of a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.
Eroglu alleged that they tried to find an overall solution to the Cyprus problem and claimed that the negotiations were suspended for October because of the economic problems in the government-controlled area of Cyprus.
Asked whether the document submitted by Downer to the sides would be at the negotiating table in any manner, Eroglu noted that this document consists of agreements and convergences reached both during former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat’s period and during his own period at the negotiations. He argued that starting the negotiations from “square one” would be undesirable, adding that at this point, ways of advancing convergences should be searched.
Eroglu expressed also his views as regards the early “parliamentary elections” which will be held in the occupied area of Cyprus on 28 July. He said he was saddened because of the accusations and the criticism made against him at the squares, at coffee shops of villages or through television channels. He wished for a “government” which could administer the “country” correctly according to a plan and a program to be established after the “elections”.
(I/Ts.)

2. Turkish Cypriot columnist argues that Varosha has been seriously put on  the table for the first time in the last 39 years
Under the title “If something will save Erdogan, this is Varosha”, Turkish Cypriot columnist SenerLevent reports in Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (24.07.13) that the issue of returning occupied fenced city of Varosha to its legal owners has been seriously put onto the table for the first time during the past 39 years.
Levent writes that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has no other option than making a move in Cyprus in order to rehabilitate his reputation, which had been harmed in the world. He says that Erdogan has been isolated in the world due to Gezi Park incidents, the collapse of his policy in Syria and his “defeat in Egypt”.
Levent argues that Erdogan fell into disrepute by US President Obama and the European leaders and that he needs something to change this situation.
Levent goes on and says, inter alia, the following:
“…Very well, where he will do this? In Cyprus! Cyprus is the best way. He has taken a peaceful step with the Kurds, but the process is not advancing. The Kurds have kept their promise, silenced their weapons and came down from the mountains. However, Erdogan has not yet kept his promise. Therefore, he needs to add Cyprus into this ‘peace climate’. Just like he did during the Annan Plan period.  The issue of Varosha has been put onto the table exactly during this problematic period. Do you think that if Obama remembered that Cyprus is still divided after 39 years, this happened for no reason? … There is nothing to be surprised about if now he has suggested to Erdogan that ‘this city must open now and be returned to its legal owners’.
I think that Varosha has been seriously put onto the table for the first time in the last 39 years. It will open without waiting for the ‘comprehensive solution’ to which our inexperienced politicians are referring…”    
Noting that Erdogan is still strong in Turkey, because he has no serious opponent in the opposition, Levent argues that the name of one person, who could defeat Erdogan in the elections in Turkey, is mentioned nowadays for the presidency of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). This person is MetinFeyzioglu, chairman of the Turkish Bar Associations’ Union, whom Levent describes as “young, dynamic and very charismatic”.
(I/Ts.)

3. The Cyprus problem is not discussed in the campaign for the forthcoming “parliamentary elections” in occupied Cyprus
Under the title “Cyprus has been shelved”, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (24.07.13) reports that the forthcoming early “parliamentary elections” of the 28th of July, 2013, are the first “elections” in which the Cyprus problem has not been discussed during the “election” campaign. 
According to the paper, the “citizens” are interested in issues such economy and ways of solving the problem of unemployment, developing the private sector, preventing migration and making investments, instead of hoping for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Haberdar cites statements by academician at so-called European University of occupied Lefka (“LAU”), Murat Ozkaleli, who said that both the right wing and the left wing parties are holding a campaign “far away from the Cyprus problem”. He noted, inter alia, the following referring to the stance of the Turkish Cypriot political parties: “They have a stance as if the Cyprus issue has been shelved. However, this is not the situation. The negotiations will resume in October.
Ozkaleli argued that the policies of both the right wing and the left wing parties on the Cyprus problem, have collapsed. “The right wing has been left in suspense when the motherland supported the Annan Plan. The left wing has been saying for years that ‘I will bring peace’. When the Greek Cypriots rejected it, they also were left in suspense. Actually, I am not very surprised at the current situation. It was surprising that the Cyprus problem remained on the agenda in the elections after 2004, because the rhetoric of both sides had collapsed…”
(I/Ts.)

4. Illegal settlers in occupied Cyprus to establish a new political party
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (24.07.13) reports that the EnverDincoglu, the chairman of the “Turkish Immigrants Assistance and Solidarity Association (TURK-GOC-DER)” [Tr.note. Association of illegal settlers in occupied Cyprus], stated that the Association after  evaluating  the results of the 28 July “elections” will establish a new political party.
The name of the party will be ToplumsalGelisimPartisi (Communal Improvement Party).
Dincoglu stated that the persons who settled in Cyprus after the 1974 Turkish invasion they did the harder job regarding the development of the island adding that for nearly forty years now they continue to search for their identity. 
5. Turkish military steps up measures on Syria border
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (24.07.13) reports that the Turkish military has stepped up surveillance flights over the Syrian-Turkish border, where clashes between Kurds and al-Qaeda-linked groups are threatening Turkey's security, and a top Turkish official said that Ankara would not tolerate an autonomous Syrian Kurdish entity on its southern border. 
Turkish warplanes departed Tuesday from Diyarbakır Air Base on surveillance missions along the Syrian-Turkish border. Tension is simmering in the region as clashes between Kurds and Islamist groups rage and Syrian groups fight to gain the upper hand in the country's North.
The Turkish military stepped up operations along Turkey's southern border after fierce fighting between the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a political offshoot of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front began threatening security in Turkish border towns.
In Ceylanpınar and Akçakale, two border towns in Turkey's Şanlıurfa province, have been hit by stray bullets. One Turkish teenager has been killed by fire from across the Syrian border last Wednesday, and the Turkish military has returned fire into Syrian territory, in line with its rules of engagement.
The security situation deteriorated in the Turkish border towns after PYD forces captured Tal Abyad, a Syrian town very close to Akçakale, and Ras al-Ain, another town just a few hundred meters from Ceylanpınar, last week. The Kurdish militant group replaced the flag of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) with their own in Ras al-Ain when they captured the town following days of clashes with al-Nusra fighters.
6. Turkey won't accept any de facto autonomy in Syria before a Parliament is elected, according to Davutoglu
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (24.07.13) reports that Ankara will not accept any de facto autonomy in Syria before a legitimate Parliament is elected, Turkish Foreign Minister AhmetDavutoğlu has said, adding that this did not necessarily mean opposing the rights of the Kurds in northern Syria.
"As we have stressed many times before, Turkey does not accept any formation of a de facto [autonomous] region or the cutting of ties with other regions [in the country] until an elected Syrian Parliament is established, giving the political system its final shape. Not only Turkey, but other groups inside Syria would not accept it either," AhmetDavutoğlu told reporters during a bilateral visit to Poland July 23.
He nevertheless stressed that the position adopted by Ankara was not one that aimed to deny the rights of the Kurdish population. "This does not mean that Turkey is against the rights of any group in Syria, particularly Kurds. On the contrary, Turkey conveyed very serious recommendations, even exerted pressure [on Syria] to protect the citizenship rights of the Kurdish population when our relations with [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad were still good. So, this is not a position against our Kurdish brothers [in Syria]," Davutoğlu said.
"We are concerned that a de facto fait accompli could further deepen the crisis in Syria," he added.
The Turkish government has not welcomed Syrian Kurds' plans to create a temporary autonomous government to administer the northern part of Syria, which borders Turkey, and Davutoğlu also warned against a "fait accompli" in a previous statement.
Speculation has been growing over the last few days that the capture of Ras al-Ayn by the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a Syrian Kurdish party with alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), will eventually lead to the creation of an autonomous Kurdish entity in northern Syria.
7. Kerry reportedly called Davutoglu to talk about Israeli-Palestinian peace talks
Turkish daily Today's Zaman(23.07.13) reports that Foreign Minister AhmetDavutoglu spoke to US Secretary of State John Kerry over the telephone to discuss recent developments regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that are expected to resume in the coming days.
Sources from the Turkish Foreign Ministry say Kerry called the foreign minister on Monday to discuss the details of the long-stalled peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis.
The two diplomats also exchanged views on the developments in Egypt and Syria and policies that should be adopted on the two countries, which are going through fragile processes.
8. Turkish journalist YavuzBaydar fired from Sabah daily over his criticism to Turkish government
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper (24.07.13) reports that Turkish veteran journalist YavuzBaydar was fired from the Sabah daily where he had been working for a long time, after the editorial board of the newspaper imposed cencorship on his two columns over Gezi Park protests and media-government relations. 
Baydar, who is also a columnist for the Today's Zaman daily, first faced cencorship when he vehemently critized government's handling of the Gezi protests.
On June 24, his critical column was not published. Baydar, the readers' editor at the Sabah daily, published readers' letters which critize the government for its stance on the Gezi Park protests which took place against re-developmant plans of the park in İstanbul's Taksim. When he sent a piece harshly critizing the government to be published, editors of the Sabah daily didn't publish it. Morever, ErdalŞafak, editor-in-chief of the Sabah daily, slammed Baydar for his stance regarding Gezi protests, in a published column.
Upon the cencorship and mounting pressure he faces, Baydar went on a vacation. He wrote a critical piece on New York Times, revealing the deepening ties between media owners and the government at the expense of freedom of expression and editorial freedom.
Baydar argued in his op-ed article on New York Times that Turkish media owners are undermining the basic principles of democracy in the country in an apparent manner. The major reason, Baydar cites, is the fact that media bosses have fears of losing lucrative business deals with the government. Illuminating on business ties with media owners and the Turkish government from a critical perspective, Baydar asserted that this kind of relationship has negative reflections on democracy and media.
When he returned from his vacation to Turkey, Baydar sent another piece to the Sabah daily to be published. This time he reportedly wrote on how relationship between editor-in-chief and the readers' editor should be formulated and on the significance of editorial freedom against possible external interventions. Turkish media reported that the Sabah daily also declined to publish Baydar's latest piece.
The newspaper finally dismissed Baydar on Tuesday.
This constitues the latest incident in a series of firings of journalists in the Turkish media, bringing press and government relations into spotlight, casting  further doubts on the democratic credentials of the EU candidate.
According to a report appeared on Today's Zaman on Monday, at least 22 journalists have been fired during month-long Gezi protests.
In addition, Hurriyet Daily News (24.07.13) reports that there are 64 journalists under arrest and another 123 are facing trial on charges of terrorism, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) has announced, with the party’s leader underlining that Turkey ranks 154th out of 179 countries in media freedom.
CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu released the outcome of the party’s research into all journalists that have been facing prosecution, presenting the “Report on Imprisoned Journalists” today at a press conference at the party’s headquarters.
Kılıçdaroğlu also referred to the Turkey Journalists’ Labor Union’s (TGS) July 22 assessment that 59 journalists had been removed from post for their news reports on the Gezi Park unrest.
9. Iraq's Barzani urges dialogue as Kurds prepare for grand conference
Turkish daily Today’sZaman newspaper (23.07.13) reports the following:
“The Iraqi Kurdish president has said dialogue and democracy are the only way for the Kurdish nation to reassert itself in this “new era” as Kurds are preparing to hold a grand Kurdish congress in Arbil next month. 
MassoudBarzani invited major Kurdish political and military actors in the Middle East to Arbil on Monday to lay out the agenda of a Kurdish conference next month. Led by Barzani, the goal of the conference is to seek ways to tackle challenges in Syria, where Kurds are preparing to declare an autonomous state, and the settlement process in Turkey.
“On behalf of myself, Jalal Talabani, the head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan [PUK], and [imprisoned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader] Abdullah Öcalan, I ask you to send your high level delegations to participate in the National Kurdish Conference,” Barzani's invitation reads, according to the Iraq-based newspaper Rudaw.
The newspaper said the Iraqi Kurdish leader had talks with representatives of 39 Kurdish political parties from Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq and told them that they are aiming to promote dialogue, peace and democracy among Kurdish groups and “to ensure that the will of the Kurdish people in all four parts of Kurdistan is respected” with the planned conference.
Barzani said in his speech to the participants in Monday's meeting that Kurds want to restore peace and build democracy in the region and that arms cannot achieve these goals. “What we need is peace,” he underlined, adding that the freedom of Kurds hangs on peace and the improvement of the regional economy and not war, attacks and threats to “our neighbors.”
He heralded a “new era” when the “most powerful weapon” will be the language of dialogue, peace and democracy. He said armed struggle by Kurds was only imposed on them by others and that “no one can face Kurds with weapons in this new era.”
“This reality was also understood by regional countries and forces, as well as the fact that eradicating Kurds won't even happen in dreams,” Barzani said.
Barzani also said at the end of his speech that he hoped for Iraqi President “Mr. [Jalal] Talabani and Mr. Öcalan to be among us,” adding, “I hope Talabani will recover soon and Öcalan will be freed and that we will continue our fight altogether for the interest of our nation.”
Rudaw reported that Iraqi Kurdistan's opposition leaders welcomed Barzani's initiative and promised to attend the conference despite serious political disagreements.
Saadi Ahmed Pira, a senior PUK leader, told Rudaw that Iran and Turkey, who are usually wary of Kurdish plans, have also consented to the conference being held. The report said Kurds from Turkey will feature greatly in the conference, by assigning six delegates to travel to Arbil.
PKK spokesman Ahmed Deniz told Rudaw that Murat Karayılan, the leader of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) -- the armed wing of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), an umbrella organization that also includes PKK, and Barzani recently had talks to discuss the details of the conference.
“We have conveyed our thoughts about the conference and also learned about the opinion of the other side,” Deniz said, as quoted in the report.
Independent Mardin deputy AhmetTürk, the former leader of the now-defunct pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), told Rudaw that the Kurds attending the conference do not aim to create a united Kurdistan. “We will gather to tell each other what we as Kurds should do in the Middle East,” he said.
Pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Arbil representative Mehmet Aydin told Rudaw that his party “will do whatever it takes to make the conference a success.” He said Ocalan endorsed the conference and is “eager to see it become a reality.”
Democratic Union Party (PYD) Co-chairs Saleh Muslim and Asya Abdullah; BDP Co-chair SelahattinDemirtas; Turk; and members of the KCK Executive Board Sabri Ok, ZekiSengali and RonahiSerhat were also among the participants at Monday's meeting in Arbil.”
10. Samantha Fox in occupied Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (24.07.13) reports that the British singer Samantha Fox will give a concert in occupied Cyprus.
The paper, which writes on the issue under the title “World famous star will tear down the embargo”, writes that Fox will give a concert on the third night of Ramadan at Malpas Hotel in occupied AgiosEpiktitos.

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